SAFE SOCIETY
episode 8
by CHRIS SHIMOJIMA
© 2023 One Ocean Productions. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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INTRO TITLE SOUNDS: ("Safe Society"
chorus of whispers)
NARRATOR
We have regretfully but proactively
chosen to label B a person of
interest.
RECAP SOUND BITES.
M
Where will you go? Every half
decent company is going to listen
to the science.
B
Then none of them are for me.
M
See, B, I can't let you think that.
You'll end up on a dark path.
INTERCOM VOICE
Alert is out to Safe Society, but
signal is still down. Strange.
NARRATOR
Meanwhile, Safe Society Member
Alexandra will appropriately have
her membership revoked and will
exploit the perks no longer.
SAFE SOCIETY MEMBER 4
Because you take after your racist
mother. You can't escape bad
blood. How dare you try to hide.
Denounce her now. That antivax
whore.
SAFE SOCIETY MEMBER 2
(through sobs)
I -- I -- I -- de -- de -- denounce
-- her --
NARRATOR
And M has found new purpose in the
next stage of progress, with W's
help.
W
Look at this video.
ON VIDEO: kids' laughter. Fun
music.
W (CONT'D)
Not to diminish your contribution,
but our legacy already seems to be
in place. We'd like you to be a
part of this new prosperity....
M
That's been my plan.
W
I know. We will know if it is not.
INT. M'S HOUSE / LIVING ROOM - DAY
M's footsteps -- getting closer.
Floor boards creak.....
Something unzipped. Plastic being
tapped. Liquid swirling.
NARRATOR
Finally overcoming his hangups, M
is now eagerly involving his kids
in the health of the community,
because it really does take all of
you.
LUCIA
Whoa, we get to do it too now?
INTERCOM VOICE
Oh yeah, he's taught the daughter
well. She's nearly taking the
syringe out of his hands and doing
it herself.
NARRATOR
We wish he'd awakened his son
Daniel too, but even wonderful
parents have favorites.
DANIEL
(panicking)
Daddy you love me that's why you
didn't want me to be like you, you
said that.....
Liquid swirling/filling up. Daniel
grunts/flinches.
M
Daniel, I only need your arm for
five seconds. You'll only feel a
prick.
Daniel lets out a deep breath.....
giving in.....
MUSIC: "needle" motif
Puncture sound. Liquid squirting.
Dripping.
INTERCOM VOICE
Done very gracefully.
NARRATOR
M is a true pro. We can picture
the booster's cleansing wave now
flowing seamlessly from the boy's
shoulder... to his neck... to his
heart.
Bubbling sounds. Pulsing. Heart
beats.
MUSIC: ominous swell
KITCHEN
A match being lit. Then another.
LUCIA
Whooaaa! Mine's better, Daniel.
Lighting candle sounds. Then
blowing the match out.
M
Now breathe in deep. Very deep.
But instead, Daniel's breath stops.
His heartbeat -- fast, then
stopping too....
Sound of his body collapsing to the
floor.
M gasps.
LUCIA
I'm... dizzy...
Another body collapsing.
NARRATOR
A shame. Listeners, this is what
happens when the boosters are not
given soon enough. Hopefully they
are okay.
M shakes their bodies.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's waking them up. Just a quick
fainting spell.
Daniel and Lucia cough awake.
M
Okay. You're okay.
MUSIC: ominous swell
NIGHT
Something light (crackers) being
place on a table.
LUCIA
1...2...3...4...5....
Daniel, hand it to me.
(beat)
Daniel?
(beat)
Thank you. 6. For all the
immigrants that need our love.
M
(quietly, heartfelt)
Yes. That's right.
SOFIA
And Daniel, this is your vial.
Exaggerated sound of drops plopping
out of vial.
INTERCOM VOICE
Customized Enhanced Immune System
Support, from High Vibration
Vegetation.
NARRATOR
Keeping up with it. Very good.
SOFIA
There. Eat more.
MUSIC: ominous swell
STUDY
Daniel breathing quietly,
tremulous. Typing in the distance.
INTERCOM VOICE
Daniel looks distressed. He's
spying on his dad, who's signing a
form...... It says, "Revamped
curriculum for Rothman Middle
School, to increase...."
NARRATOR
"...increase empathy in the next
generation." We know. It's the
program. And Daniel doesn't like
that??
INTERCOM VOICE
Maybe he fears the blue and green
circle among the logos.
NARRATOR
Where would he have gotten a
negative association with that?
Not his father. In any case, as
with anything new, it simply takes
time to adapt.
INT. M'S CAR - DAY
Car engine idling. Door opening.
Daniel and Lucia hopping in.
DANIEL AND LUCIA
Hi daddy.
LATER
Driving sounds.
LUCIA
Daddy, did you know I'm only half
white, so only half an oppressor?
Thank goodness. Did you know that
there were many slaves that helped
the Revolutionary War? White
people are in 8 categories, and
many are in the one that made
genocides, like to the Native
Americans.
M
Wow. Did you learn that too,
Daniel?
Nothing.
M (CONT'D)
Hey, don't sound so disappointed.
You're too small now, but you'll
learn when you're 7.
LUCIA
I'm almost 8! Oh, and today I
learned if I want to be pansexual,
I can get free lunches for the
year. Mr. Quinlan told me.
M
..... You know what that means?
LUCIA
Yeah. And Daniel doesn't have to
be a boy. Daniel, you don't have
to be a boy.
She taps him. He whines,
uncomfortable. Fabric rustling as
he jerks away.
M
Hold on now. Daniel is a boy.
LUCIA
No, he thinks so because he's sick.
Daniel, you don't have to be a boy.
You'll start getting better next
week.
M
What's next week?
LUCIA
I forget, but Mx. Nisbett said
that's when it starts for all
grades. So that means Daniel gets
it too.
Driving sounds come to a stop. The
turning blinker starts.
M
Lucia --
(stopping mid-breath)
INTERCOM VOICE
M's being cautious for some reason.
He sees a driver one lane over,
staring at him......
NARRATOR
Did you alert this driver to watch?
INTERCOM VOICE
No.
NARRATOR
Does he think so?
INTERCOM VOICE
Maybe thinks someone did.
INT. M'S HOUSE / BEDROOM - NIGHT
Crickets outside.
SOFIA
Gender is toxic.
M
For us, okay, but... do we know
that for certain, for them? What
if it's not?
SOFIA
What if it is?
M
Sofia, c'mon.
SOFIA
(echoing in his head)
What if it is?
What if it is?
The flicker sound from Episode 3!
Doubled by the HUM. Making M
shudder...
M
Shit, you're right.
SOFIA
Listen to the science: They need
to find new order now, before their
brains become set with shame.
Imagine them suffering as teens in
THE WRONG IDENTITY.
(echoing in his head)
in THE WRONG IDENTITY...
in THE WRONG IDENTITY...
M
Yes... yes....
INT. KIDS' ROOM
Collecting items.
SOFIA
This one... this too...
Daniel crying. Sounds of fidgeting
around / pulling.
DANIEL
I like them! Girl toys are stupid!
Boys are better than girls!
SOFIA
Daniel, that's offensive, don't say
that.
Phone vibrates.
INTERCOM VOICE
Hmm... M has a message.... unknown
number....
"M, it's B. Watch this now."
NARRATOR
Well, we'll be damned.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's stepping away. Hiding the
phone.
SOFIA
You hear me, Daniel? Don't say
that.
INTERCOM VOICE
Looking at the phone again. In
secret.
SOFIA
Don't say that.
INTERCOM VOICE
Clicking the link sent....
It's a video titled "Youth re
programming."
NARRATOR
Oh. We know what it must be.
SOFIA
Don't say that.
INTERCOM VOICE
Doctors around a surgery table....
A small foot sticking out from
under the sheets....
Sofia's voice has become a threat:
SOFIA
Don't say that........
A GHOST-LIKE BREATH in the air.
INTERCOM VOICE
Lab-testing recordings. A chamber
being opened. Puffs of steam.
Camera is wide, so M is leaning
closer to see. It's the shape of a
naked body stepping out...... a
child....
MUSIC: going wild -- a dissonant
warning
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
M looks like he's seen a ghost.
This child has a peaceful
smile...... no hair... no private
parts......
NARRATOR
Of course. Showing skewed images
out of context.
HUM AND CHANT doubles Narrator's
last few words...
.... along with the slimy, peeling,
dripping sounds...
.... and a growing rumble.....
SOFIA
M, help me here. He'll listen to
your voice.
Nothing.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
M?
M's footsteps -- fading out.
NARRATOR
Perhaps warn Safe Society. W can
have another chat with him.
LIVING ROOM
TV sounds.
And an eerie wind.... vibrating the
window.....
LUCIA
Hello?
MUSIC: a slow, tense building beat
BATHROOM
Brushing teeth.
Phone starts buzzing....
Brushing stops.
NARRATOR
W already wants a chat? He's
concerned already?
INTERCOM VOICE
No. Unknown number again...
NARRATOR
Hmm... B...?
LIVING ROOM
Lucia taps the remote control. TV
volume goes down.
She gets out of the couch. We
follow her footsteps.
BATHROOM
Phone keeps buzzing.
LIVING ROOM
Wiping glass. Lightly tapping it.
Eerie wind sounds closer.
LUCIA
Hello?
BATHROOM
M picks up the phone. Hangs up --
phone buzzing is cut off.
Brushing teeth resumes.
INTERCOM VOICE
He didn't pick up.
LIVING ROOM
Eerie wind dies down. Lucia taps
the window one more time.
Then sighs.
We follow her footsteps. She plops
down on the couch. TV volume goes
back up.
BEDROOM
Silence, except for the muted
outside crickets.
Then subtly fading in: Sofia's
voice from another room,
whispering.
M
Sofia?
M shuffles. Feels around.
We still can't discern the distant
whispers...
M (CONT'D)
Sofia, what time is it?
Shuffling. Unlocking a phone.
Clicking on a light.
MUSIC: FRIGHTENING STING
M yells out!..........
Daniel and Lucia speak in tandem,
in a creepy voice, echoing ALL
AROUND US...
DANIEL AND LUCIA
THANK YOU, DADDY -- NO MORE PRIVATE
PARTS
M's yell crescendos.....
The sound of lunging up --
Everything cuts off, except M
breathing heavily -- it was a
nightmare....
M
Sofia?
Sofia's voice is now present next
to him -- a quick groan, asleep.
KITCHEN - DAY
Birds chirping outside. M sipping
coffee. Clearing his throat.
Putting the mug down.
Daniel and Lucia talking in the
background, getting backpacks and
jackets on... and closing a cabinet
--
WHAM!
MUSIC: sting
M
Oh! Sofia....
SOFIA
(subtly suspicious)
What are you looking at, M?
M
Just... seeing the kids leaving....
He gets out of the stool/chair.
M (CONT'D)
Know what? I'll take them.
SOFIA
It's fine, I'll take them.
M (CONT'D)
No -- no, it's --
Both their footsteps -- racing.
SOFIA
Ha ha ha!
She's won. She opens the door and
moves out.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
Come kids, come.... hahahahaha
Daniel and Lucia's voices move out.
The door closes.
But Sofia's laughter
echoes...........
EXT. ROTHMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL - DAY
Car door closes. Distant cars
driving off. Distant kids' voices
and footsteps.
INTERCOM VOICE
First day of the revamped
curriculum. Students approaching
the doors. Will keep an eye on
Daniel.
NARRATOR
He will adapt. We feel the jovial
spirit in the air. It's a march up
the steps. For those of you just
now tuning in, it's like a
coronation. We can nearly hear the
trumpets.
Off-key/weird trumpets echo......
The footsteps fall into creepy
unison.
Mixed in: the slimy, peeling,
dripping, rumbling sounds... and
now something plant-like growing,
protruding.....
Huge double doors crack open.......
Back by the drive-through, a car
drives off --
-- and immediately Daniel makes
struggling sounds.
LUCIA
What are you doing? Get off!
DANIEL
Mommy's gone! Let's go!
Struggling against each other.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
ARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!
Their shoes, making it onto
grass....
LUCIA
No you don't!
Their shoes, making it back onto
concrete.....
INT. MYSTERIOUS CAR
Car engine idling. Lucia and
Daniel's shouts, in the distance.
The keys jangle. The car engine
goes off. Car door opens.
Someone steps out.
MUSIC: dramatic swell.......
INT. M'S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Car driving sounds. Highway cars
zipping by outside.
Incoming call -- phone ringing
sound on the car speakers.
M
Hello?
It's MX. TRUJILLO:
MX. TRUJILLO (ON SPEAKER)
Hi, Mr. M?
M
Yes?
MX. TRUJILLO (ON SPEAKER)
This is Mx. Trujillo, the nurse at
Rothman. Daniel and Lucia are here
with a stomach bug. They're doing
6 masks each. Would you like to
pick them up in case they're
contagious?
CUT TO
Car driving -- now off the highway.
INTERCOM VOICE
M has rerouted. He's high-strung
again. He sees a car behind him,
in the rear-view mirror. Gray car,
seemingly following....
Safe Society may have sent it.
Will get confirmation.
Car coming to a stop.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Red light. M looks behind him.
Hard to tell in the glare, but the
individual in the gray car is
definitely looking forward.
Car starting forward.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Green light. M is going
straight....... The gray car does
not follow. The gray car turns.
EXT. ROTHMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL - DAY
Car turning, going over a speed
bump.
INTERCOM VOICE
M is at Rothman Middle School.
Brakes slammed. Car screech.
NARRATOR
What is that?
INTERCOM VOICE
He saw something..... It's B.
Looking different. Humbler
clothing. Face hidden by a cap.
CUT TO
M's footsteps -- through grass.
M
What's going on, what are --
B
Man, why wouldn't you pick up?
Your kids are in danger.
EXT. SECLUDED ROAD - DAY
Branches snapping under feet.
INTERCOM VOICE
B is leading him through a wooded
patch. Out to an empty side
street.
Footsteps -- on concrete now.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
B is also looking more focused.
More purpose in his step. They're
approaching an SUV with a rolled
down window... Daniel is inside.
M's footsteps stop. Then suddenly
break into a run.
M
What -- what the fuck --
INTERCOM VOICE
Daniel is waving.
Car door opens.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Lucia's there too. With 2 other
adults. 20-something. Street
clothes. And -- yep, M is already
pulling the kids away.
NARRATOR
Oh good. What a relief!
Footsteps -- loud and messy -- as M
starts taking the kids away.
M
WHAT DID YOU DO? WHO IS ALL THIS
AND WHERE ARE THEIR MASKS? THIS IS
WHAT YOU'VE COME TO? YOU KIDNAPPED
MY KIDS, B!
B
LEMME TALK! I THOUGHT WE COULD GET
THROUGH TO YOU NOW, AFTER YOU
STARTED SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO
THEM! BUT NO, YOU'RE JUST A BLIND
PIECE OF SHIT!
Footsteps have stopped. M shuts
up, stops rustling. B unleashes:
B (CONT'D)
DIDN'T YOU KNOW THE MEALS MESSED
WITH MY GUT? DIDN'T YOU KNOW THE
JABS MESSED WITH MY HEAD? AND ALL
FOR A LIE. MAYBE YOU DIDN'T CARE,
CUZ WHAT, YOU WANTED DISCIPLES?? I
looked up to you.... I... I put my
heart into our mission.... You guys
were my people.......
B starts to choke up. Through
tears:
B (CONT'D)
...and then I had to throw it
away...... Why'd you put me in a
place where I had to live a lie, or
lose friends I was making?
M
(affected)
B...
B manages to quiet down and focus
his wrath.
B
Your "compassion" is hurting many,
you hypocrite. We know you've gone
overboard, because if you had the
right info, you'd act different....
7600 Americans were dying on tubes
every day before this virus. No
one made a big deal then.
NARRATOR
These types of deaths are a bigger
deal.
B
The virus is not killing 10 percent
of Americans. The numbers you see
are skewed to include patients with
the virus, not dying from it.
NARRATOR
Listeners, this is irrelevant. Is
there a rule that says a fact has
to get so specific?
B
And cops are not disproportionately
killing blacks.
Skewing numbers is a ploy to get us
on board with mass control.
Messing with kids is to get us
questioning our values, so they can
provide the solution.
NARRATOR
Or because change and progress are
a fact of life.
B
You know who they is? Your Society
"pals." Maybe they didn't cause
it, but they sure exploited it.
Beat. M sighs, taking it all in.
MUSIC: dramatic, ticking -- a
choice must be made
B (CONT'D)
Look, you know we're not nutjobs.
And why we have to do something.
You're the biggest guy with a
platform we can get to. So can you
wake up?.... You lose a following,
but you get a whole new batch. For
a real purpose.
Beat.
M
My brain says yes......
NARRATOR
But following his heart is what
makes him human. Nice try, B.
M
...my heart.... I can't control
it...
B
M! I'M GONNA FUCKIN TEAR YOUR
SKULL OPEN -- WAKE THE FUCK UP --
HOLD HIM DOWN --
Struggling sounds! Grunts!
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Coffee shop sounds.
SOFIA
What are you talking about?
M (ON PHONE)
I've been stressed lately, and I
need to get away for a few days.
SOFIA
... What?
INT. B'S HOME / GUEST ROOM - DAY
REBEL 1, clicking around.
SOFIA (PHONE VOICE)
What?
REBEL 1
It's nothing you did. I just need
a little alone time...
M
It's nothing you did. I just need
a little alone time...
INTERCOM VOICE
AI voice system. Someone is faking
M's voice. I'm assuming another
one of B's Rebel colleagues. I
also see a stream to fake the voice
of Mx. Trujillo.
NARRATOR
Right. The school nurse that
seemingly told M to pick up the
kids. Clever.
SOFIA (PHONE VOICE)
Are you leaving me -- why didn't
you say something -- what is your
problem -- you met someone! --
REBEL 1
Calm down. I'm not! There's no
one! Just please -- a few days --
M
Calm down. I'm not! There's no
one! Just please -- a few days --
EXT. M'S HOUSE - DAY
Birds chirping. Car pulls up.
Comes to a stop. Car door opens.
NARRATOR
Where's M? He's not with the kids?
INTERCOM VOICE
Standby. We'll crack their plan.
B
Lucia, it's a game. Just pretend
you're sick for a few days, but you
have to be very very convincing.
LUCIA
But I want to go to school.
B
I know you do. But your brother is
not doing well. And if you or him
go to the school, something bad
will happen to his heart.
INTERCOM VOICE
Winking at the brother Daniel.
Letting him know it's a lie, to get
these spoiled kids out of their new
school responsibilities.
DANIEL
Yeah. Lucia, he's right.
B
Don't you want your brother to be
okay? So some day he'll be able to
Shatter That Glass too?
LUCIA
(gasps, to herself)
Shatter That Glass... yeah....
Don't worry, Danny. Let's go play
sick.
Climbing out of car. Footsteps
skipping, fading out.
INT. B'S HOME / GUEST ROOM - DAY
Struggling sounds. Voices of more
REBELS:
REBELS
Yeah -- almost -- get him down --
watch out, watch his head --
INTERCOM VOICE
B and a group of Rebel teammates
are here. M is struggling.
Anxious. Being pushed down onto an
inflatable mattress. Looks like
B's home. A guest room.
Straps being tightened.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Bondage-style straps are being
forcefully tied around M's wrists
and ankles.
NARRATOR
Alert Safe Society?
INTERCOM VOICE
Signal still down.
NARRATOR
(sighs)
We're sorry, M. Listeners, let us
hope for the best.
MUSIC: dramatic swell